Live Inspired Podcast with John O'Leary John O'Leary

J.R. Martinez is an Army veteran, burn survivor, actor, New York Times best-selling author, and Dancing with the Stars champion, spreading a message of hope, resilience and optimism.
Today, J.R. shares a story of pain, triumph, and the beauty of pushing forward. Hear the pivotal experiences that shaped his desire to become a cycle-breaker, what he learned while trapped inside a burning Humvee in Iraq, the process he went through to become grateful for his scars and how he rediscovered how to fulfill his purpose of serving others.
My friends, this conversation reminds us that though our paths may differ and the challenges we face may be unique, each of us holds the incredible power to adapt and overcome. And reinforces that each scar, each struggle, and each victory is a steppingstone toward a fuller, more meaningful life.

Although health care practitioners are often cautioned to avoid becoming emotionally invested in a critically ill patient’s outcome, the reality on the ground is it’s impossible not to become engrossed. They spend significant time with the patient, get to know them intimately, and often become friends with the family.
Such was the case during the five months I spent in the hospital after the fire. These nurses were the servants who never missed a single shift. Whether it was a holiday, weekend, or night, they were there for me and every other patient on the floor.
My family and I remained in contact with many of these nurses even after being released. We’d come back to the floor to visit them, exchange birthday calls and Christmas cards. We had Thanksgiving dinner with one of them for more than a decade afterwards and invited as many as we could track down to my wedding 16 years after being discharged from their care.
And yet, one of the most meaningful gifts these nurses provided occurred recently. Let me explain...

Jimmie James is a radiant symbol of possibility.
Born into poverty in 1959 in the Jim Crow South, Jimmie was one of eight children raised by a devoted single mother. From humble beginnings, he was determined to shatter every expectation by being the first person in his circle to graduate from high school.
This dream was only the beginning as he then soared through college and launched into a transformative 33-year career at ExxonMobil. His climb from an entry-level engineer to a globe-trotting executive proved that where you start doesn’t dictate where you end up. And as he transitioned into retirement, Jimmie laced up his golf shoes and set out on a new adventure—playing all of Golf Digest's Top 100 golf courses in America within a single year.
Today, Jimmie shares his remarkable journey as he teaches us about persistence, unshakable determination, breaking barriers, and the power of chasing our dreams.
My friends, this conversation is about more than golf or overcoming adversity. It’s a beautiful reminder to keep swinging, keep dreaming and keep believing that anything is possible.
 

"Legacy is not leaving something behind for other people. It’s leaving something behind in other people." -Peter Strople
Because of an unexpected gift from his late father, Blake Brewer is now on a mission to help one million parents write at least one well-written, meaningful legacy letter to their children. Let me explain.

Blake Brewer is the founder of Legacy Letter and is on a mission to help one million parents write at least one well-written, meaningful, lasting legacy letter to their children.
Hours after the tragic loss of his father, Blake discovered what would become a guiding light during his grief journey. A life-changing letter from his late father filled with wisdom, love and hope.
Today, Blake shares his story of loss and resilience, focusing on the transformative power of legacy and his role in helping others leave lasting impressions through words with their loved ones.
My friends, if you’re eager to craft a lasting legacy and achieve deeper connections with those you love, this conversation is for you.

“The voicemail you have reached is currently full.”
If you try leaving a message on my cell phone, you’ll often get that recording.
The reason it’s full is that I don’t always delete the messages of friends and family. I love the tone of Mom as she practically sings out my name to begin her messages. I savor the softened, muted, sweet voice of my father checking in on me. I’ve kept several from my wife just letting me know she was thinking of me, and I’ve kept one from each of my kids so I can hear their voices when I’m traveling.
But sometimes it’s in permanently losing a voice, that we are reminded through the voices of others how special our loved one was.  Let me explain.